The New and Living Way

By Brian Keepers

Read: Hebrews 10:1-14
“When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.” (Hebrews 10:12)

The book of Hebrews stands out among New Testament writings for many reasons—most importantly for its emphasis on Christ’s death as a sacrifice for sin. Drawing heavily on the Old Testament sacrificial system, the writer of Hebrews declared: “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (9:22).

The Jewish people took the holiness of God very seriously, and they knew that sin put a barrier between them and God. The sacrificial system, with offerings by the priest and the sacrifice of an unblemished animal, provided a means for God’s people to be forgiven of their sins and brought near to his presence.

Here’s what’s so remarkable: Hebrews tells us that Jesus, “the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being” (1:3 NRSV), willingly assumed the dual roles of both the great High Priest, who makes the sacrifice on our behalf, and the unblemished Lamb, who is himself sacrificed.

In his very body, Jesus “offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins” (10:12). No further sacrifices are needed. The once-for-all sacrifice of his own blood is fully sufficient, and he now becomes the means — “the new and living way” (10:20) — by which we are forgiven, drawn into the presence of a holy God, and made holy ourselves. There is no longer any barrier between us and God since Jesus is our High Priest forever!

As you pray, thank God that Jesus has made a new and living way for you to be forgiven and brought near to God.
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Brian Keepers has been an ordained pastor in the Reformed Church in America for more than 20 years. He is currently serving as the lead pastor of Trinity Reformed Church in Orange City, Iowa.